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LUCKY ESCAPE FOR PUPILS

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Feb 2004.

HAYLE Community School children had a miraculous escape on Saturday night when the coach they were travelling in left the road and crashed into a house just outside Bodmin.

The accident occurred on a notorious stretch of road near Bodmin Parkway railway station. The owners of the 19th Century toll house, John and Maureen Grigsby, had just left the room into which the coach smashed, to go out to their kitchen for a drink.

The coach driver was injured and was airlifted to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

The coach was operated by Camborne-based Williams Travel. Another vehicle from the same company was involved in an accident on the same evening, when it careered down a bank from the A38 as a Newquay rugby team returned from Plymouth. The coach came to rest in a field. Again, none of the passengers was hurt, but the coach driver was injured and taken to Derriford Hospital with spinal injuries.

Garry Williams, operations manger for FT Travel, said that the company would not be commenting on the cause of the accidents, which will be the subjects of thorough investigations by the police and the Vehicle Inspectorate, part of the Department of Transport.

He said the company was relieved that no passengers had been seriously injured. Both drivers were recovering from their injuries - one had been released from hospital while the other remained in Derriford Hospital where his condition was described as comfortable.

Mr Williams said: "Both vehicles have been inspected. The outcome of these inspections has not yet been released.

"We are confident that both coaches have been maintained to a high standard. A thorough inspection was undertaken of our entire fleet in November 2003 by the Vehicle Inspectorate."

He added: "Our company has been operating for over 20 years and this is the first time we have had an accident of this nature. Our thoughts are with all passengers and drivers concerned."

Christine Jackman, headteacher at Hayle Community School, paid tribute to the work of the emergency services and to local people at the scene of the crash who took the shaken children and teachers into their homes.

She said the over-riding reaction to the accident of everyone at the school was one of relief that all the pupils and teachers, who had been on a theatre trip, escaped serious injury.

"We were obviously concerned for the driver and are pleased to hear that he is stable," said Mrs Jackman on Monday.

She said the children had enjoyed their visit to Plymouth to see the Theatre Royal production of Footloose and, upon their return to school on Monday morning, had been talking about the musical and an ice skating session they had participated in.

"All the parents I spoke to yesterday praised the teachers for their handling of the situation," said Mrs Jackman. "The words used were that they were brilliant. The pupils have also been praised by the people at the scene."relieved that no passengers had been seriously injured. Both drivers were recovering from their injuries - one had been released from hospital while the other remained in Derriford Hospital where his condition was described as comfortable.

Mr Williams said: "Both vehicles have been inspected. The outcome of these inspections has not yet been released.

"We are confident that both coaches have been maintained to a high standard. A thorough inspection was undertaken of our entire fleet in November 2003 by the Vehicle Inspectorate."

He added: "Our company has been operating for over 20 years and this is the first time we have had an accident of this nature. Our thoughts are with all passengers and drivers concerned."

Christine Jackman, headteacher at Hayle Community School, paid tribute to the work of the emergency services and to local people at the scene of the crash who took the shaken children and teachers into their homes.

She said the over-riding reaction to the accident of everyone at the school was one of relief that all the pupils and teachers, who had been on a theatre trip, escaped serious injury.

"We were obviously concerned for the driver and are pleased to hear that he is stable," said Mrs Jackman on Monday.

She said the children had enjoyed their visit to Plymouth to see the Theatre Royal production of Footloose and, upon their return to school on Monday morning, had been talking about the musical and an ice skating session they had participated in.

"All the parents I spoke to yesterday praised the teachers for their handling of the situation," said Mrs Jackman. "The words used were that they were brilliant. The pupils have also been praised by the people at the scene."